Student designed Mazda Yuuga Coupe features no smiley face

The jury is largely in on Mazda's new happy corporate face and well, most folks don't like it. But what if Mazda designed a car featuring its Nagare design language minus the smiley face? That's exactly what one student designer named Imran Ali did with the Yuuga Coupe. Presented at the 2009 Degree Show at the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea, UK, we have to say that the Yugga Coupe is quite the looker.

No known plans exist for production. For all anyone knows, this could be a Mazda6 coupe. Or, the Yuuga could indicate a design direction for future RX models – like a return to the gone-but-totally-not-forgotten RX-7. Or hey, it could be something totally different – who knows? The all-glass roof and crash-cymbal sized brakes are obviously auto show wishful thinking, yet the side profile is quite modern and Fisker-like. The rear looks even better – sorta like an Aston Martin V8. Then, of course, there's the Mazda meets GT-R front end, which is especially handsome. Good work, Mr. Ali. We hope they build it, though the name has to go. Too close to Yugo for our liking.

Monterey 2009: Rizk Auto Aston Martin DBR2 in the carbon

So often it seems that good automotive ideas never come to fruition, and at best arrive well behind schedule. Not so with Rizk Auto. We got wind of their modern interpretation of the 1957 Aston Martin DBR2 racecar just last month, and already we've been able to inspect it up close and in person. The Phoenix based company brought out their carbon fiber creation to the Monterey Jet Center for Gordon McCall's Motorworks Revival event last night, and we are pleased to say the car looks even more impressive than in the photos.

The carbon fiber body and chassis appears to be perfectly put together, and the Jaguar inline-6 under the hood gives it a great vintage look. The best part? Rizk invited us to get behind the wheel while we're in Monterey, and we'd be insane not to fit it into our busy schedule this week. Check back soon for our driving impressions, but until then browse through the high-res gallery below.

Auto upswing: J.D. Power predicts sales jump for 2010

Cash for Clunkers has helped automakers sell more cars while also clearing out some excess inventory on dealer lots. But the sales boost of C4C is only expected to last so long, as many analysts expect the program to run its entire budget by Labor Day. Does that mean the months ahead will revert to the putrid car sales of the first six months of the year? J.D. Power doesn't seem to think so.

Gary Dilts, senior vice president at J.D. Power & Associates, told Reuters that the company sees sales jumping to 11.5 million units in 2010, up 15% versus 2009's expected 10 million sales. Several factors go into J.D. Power's predicted upswing in car sales, including an improved credit market and consumer confidence, in addition to healthier financial markets. Dilts also sees some good news for the remainder of 2009, with improved August sales of 12 million units on an annualized basis, and up to 200,000 more car sales for 2009 than were originally predicted.

While 11.5 million units would be a huge improvement versus the abysmal sales we've seen so far this year, it's still peanuts compared to sales numbers from earlier in the decade. 2008 was no picnic either, yet sales still hit 13.2 million units. In the end, J.D. Power is only coming up with a very educated guess, and the number could easily swing higher or lower depending on how the recession plays out over the next year and a half.

REPORT: Acura NSX replacement will move downmarket in price, performance

Late last year, Honda confirmed that it had halted development on the Acura NSX project as we had come to know it. While we're still mourning the loss of the promised front-mounted 560-horsepower V10 powerplant and torque-vectoring AWD setup, the boys at Car and Driver are reporting that the NSX may yet appear in some other form entirely.

Quoting John Watts, Acura's senior manager of product development, C&D says the NSX revival may still be in the works, just on a somewhat lower performance plateau. Says Watts, "For it to be fully effective [as a halo vehicle for the brand], it couldn't be too far removed" from Acura's other products.

As the original Acura NSX proved, Honda is capable of amazing things when it comes to performance-minded automobiles. As cool as another technological Tour de Force would be, the idea of a mid-level sportscar from Acura is certainly an intriguing prospect in its own right and would be something much more affordable for the average working stiff.

Dodge Viper ACR wing stronger than your average spoiler

The elephantine rear airfoil bolted to the rear deck of the Dodge Viper ACR is not only highly functional, but it gets credit as being the first mass-produced carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) wing on a production car. Rear wings on high performance vehicles are designed to counter lift. Without aerodynamic aids, most vehicles become less stable and have reduced grip as velocities increase (worst case, the vehicle actually flies as did the Mercedes CLR at Le Mans in 1999).

Chrysler's SRT Performance Group was tasked with building a faster variant of the Dodge Viper with the ACR, yet cutting weight at the same time. The team did extensive studies of wing profiles before settling on a 72-inch wide wing manufactured out of CFRP. While most wings have a structural core or ribbing, the ACR's hollow wing is comprised of just four layers of epoxy/carbon fiber weave with an outer UV-resistant clearcoat.

The wing is amazingly strong (as evidenced by the picture at right), yet it weighs just 7.5 lbs, 50 to 80 percent less than an aluminum or thermoplastic counterpart. Working in conjunction with a variable-geometry front splitter and dive planes, the oversized rear wing helps the Viper ACR achieve its targeted 1,000 lbs of downforce at 150 mph. That's enough to help Dodge's supercar sustain a cornering load of 1.5 Gs at speed – superior to many GT racing cars.

Proud Oshawa mayor and his Camaro SS ruffle some feathers

The hot-selling 2010 Chevy Camaro is made in Oshawa, Canada. The mayor of Oshawa, John Gray, drives a spanking new red Camaro SS with a white racing stripe, just like the one that introduced the bowtie muscle car to the Middle East back in June. Supporting locally made products sounds like a shrewd move for any politician, especially when the city is footing the bill for your ride. A free Camaro is a great job perk, but one Oshawa resident – Bill Steele – doesn't agree.

Steele says the mayor is "flaunting this gas-guzzling vehicle all around town... and I don't like that I'm paying for part of a sports car that gets 17 miles to the gallon." Steele serves up the city's high tax rates as a reason why the mayor shouldn't be driving a Camaro. Of course, without over 400 Camaros being built in Oshawa per day, there would likely be thousands fewer tax payers to help pay those already high taxes. Mayor Gray knows there are a few citizens who don't like his pricey, thirsty pony car, but that thankfully isn't stopping him from driving it. Thanks for the tip, Alan!

Monterey 2009: Porsche Panamera makes North American debut

You might have guessed that Porsche was one of the official sponsors of Gordon McCall's Motorworks Revival at the Monterey Jet Center this year by all of the Panameras (Panamerae?) on hand. Although we've already sampled Stuttgart's Quattroporte-competitor in Germany, we got a chance to see and sit in some U.S. versions on American soil for the first time here in Monterey. About a half dozen of them were scattered around the Jet Center, turbos and non-turbos alike. While not the most beautiful cars at the show by a long shot, they certainly attracted a a lot of attention.

To be honest, we were surprised by how many people seemed to love the styling. It was mostly the women, believe it or not, who could be overheard saying how stylish the car was, and more than a few mentioned the Mercedes CLS and Quattroporte when they discussed its looks. Admirers mentioned the clever hatchback and all of the space it provided for luggage. It was the interior, though that seemed to generate the most favorable responses. Roomy and luxurious, with quality details all around, the only negatives we heard were about the number of switches on the center console.

We'll have some driving impressions to add later in the week, but for now, enjoy our gallery from Gordon McCall's Motorworks Revival at The Monterey Jet Center.

VIDEO: The Corvette ZR1 was chasing a Lambo LP670-4 SV around Millbrook

On Monday we shared a very nifty video of the lads at Autocar and a fire-breathing Blue Devil corvette chasing something around the hill route at Millbrook. Obviously, speculation was rampant about what sort of car had the camera strapped to it. Some folks went ahead and checked out Autocar since it was their video, others simply guessed. Results: Some of you were right! Others, very wrong. But, like the good parents that we are, Autoblog loves all of you equally. Moving on.

I'm going to go a little inside baseball for a moment, so bare bear with me. Yes, Autocar revealed that the chase car was indeed a Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SuperVeloce about two weeks ago. Trouble was, the clip wasn't on YouTube, meaning that we couldn't share it with you here on Autoblog. A questionable decision, but a decision, nonethelss. Anyhow, look – a Chevy Corvette ZR1 chasing a Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SV around a track!!!

This really is an unbelievable video. First of all, you got two of the hottest cars in the world. Second, the Lambo should be a bit quicker than the ZR1, right? It has around 30 more horsepower, weighs about 60 pounds less and has AWD, allowing it to exit corners more quickly. Plus, the Lamborghini has a factory driver at the helm while the Corvette is being piloted by (gulp) an auto journalist. Only thing is, well... watch for yourself, after the jump. One more thing – not counting the "joke's on you, rich people!" Reventon, the LP670-4 SV is Lambo's most expensive vehicle and the ZR1 is (obviously) Chevy's. Can you image a race between the two brands' cheapest vehicles? Aveo vs. Gallardo LP560-4 strikes us as very funny.

[Source: YouTube via Autocar]

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Chevrolet, Lamborghini, UK

Report: Toyota planning cheaper, Yaris-based hybrid, could arrive in 2011

According to a report originating from a Japanese newspaper, Toyota is planning to add another smaller, cheaper hybrid to its global lineup. The new model would be based on the Yaris sub-compact and be priced well below the current cheapest hybrid: the Honda Insight. This would be consistent with Toyota's oft-repeated plans to launch hybrid variants of almost every vehicle it sells over the next decade. The price in Japan could reportedly be as low as $15,650, and according to the Yomiuri Shimbun, the Yaris hybrid could achieve a fuel efficiency rating as high as 94 mpg!

Unfortunately, this is based on the same Japanese 10-15 urban test cycle that rated the new Prius at 89 mpg. While it's not unusual for dedicated hyper-milers to rack up those kinds of numbers, they are utterly unrealistic in real world driving conditions. Most likely we'll end up with EPA ratings in the low 50s and real world performance in the high 40s for most drivers. Although the Yaris is smaller than the Insight, Honda will have something to worry about if this new hybrid makes those kinds of mileage numbers and hits that price point.

Monterey 2009: Limited edition Morgan Aero SuperSports appears stateside

Another year, another boutique automaker showing off another limited edition morsel of automotive hotness at Gordon McCall's Motorworks Revival, aka The Jet Center Party. This time it happened to be Morgan, the century-old British anachronism-maker, showing off its new Aero SuperSports.

For those of you who might not be following the comings and goings of this cottage carmaker (read: everybody) as close as Richard Hammond, the Aero SuperSports is basically an Aeromax targa. It features the same aluminum chassis and BMW 4.8-liter V8, backed by your choice of a six-speed stick or automatic transmission. The difference here is the two piece top that can be removed and stowed in the boot. It was first shown at Villa d'Este but popped up in Monterey last night along with 50 or so other incredible vehicles we're sure to see more of in the coming few days here in Monterey.

Only 200 of these 2010 Morgan Aero SuperSports are going to be sold and we've heard that 80 slots are already taken, for a paltry $187K apiece. High-res gallery below, official press release after the jump.

PRESS RELEASE:

Morgan Aero SuperSports

Throughout 2009 the Morgan Motor Company is celebrating one hundred years of continuous manufacture of motorcars. The company has remained in one family's ownership since the founder HFS Morgan made his first car in 1909.

As part of the Centenary celebrations Morgan announces a truly special model.

Designed and engineered in house, the Morgan Aero SuperSports is a lightweight aluminium sports car with a luxurious specification. The interior features a comfortable combination of polished hardwoods, hand stitched leather and electronic technology to create a driving environment that is efficient, ergonomic and sumptuous. In spite of all this opulence the overall weight of the car is still minimal so the car is responsive to driver inputs and economical to run. The unique way Morgan can achieve this is down to our use of aircraft style superformed aluminium outer panels and the skills of our craftsmen to hand finish the assembly of each car.

This technology debuted in the 100 AeroMax coupes built by the factory in 2008 and 2009.

Such was demand for this model, that Morgan have taken the decision to produce the Morgan Aero SuperSports. A limited edition, the car makes use of two aluminium detachable roof panels. These can either turn the car effectively in to a coupe or when detached bring fresh air and the aromas of the seasons to the driving experience without undue wind disturbance to spoil the journey. The panels can be stored conveniently in the boot.

The car of course benefits from the lightweight aluminium Aero chassis which is adhesively bonded for class leading rigidity. Exceeding global crash protection standards, this is also the platform used by the Morgan Aero Eight GT3 currently competing successfully in the 2009 International FIA GT3 Championship. This chassis combined with the aluminium 4.8 litre BMW V8 engine and a choice of 6 speed automatic or manual gearboxes offers an unrivalled driving experience. No other automatic car offers such dynamic power transmission.

Drawn by Matthew Humphries, and engineered for production by the experienced "Morgan Design" team, the new Aero Super Sports is due to enter production in early 2010. A deposit of £25,000 is required to ensure the supply of one of these exciting new models. It is anticipated to cost around £127,000 including VAT.

Charles Morgan, Grandson of the founder said " The Morgan Aero SuperSports is a luxurious flamboyant sports car which also remains true to Morgan's philosophy of lightweight minimalist simplicity. It is a celebration of our love of cars and the romance of travel and is a fitting model to announce during Morgan's Centenary year."